Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 77

December 18th, 2019

I was lying on the couch with Xander and Cayden, half-asleep while watching Tv.

It was almost midnight already, two hours past the time Alan and the rest of our brothers had promised they'd be back. Cato had left for an emergency work meeting, and Alan, Colton, and Eli had gone to hang out with some of their friends.

Calvin had stayed home, though I'd already caught him getting high in his room.

I hadn't been monitoring what they'd been doing in their free time, but now they were reverting back to their old habits, and honestly, it was making me nervous. I was already nervous about meeting with the prosecution team from Ben's case to rehearse my testimony for Friday, I didn't need to be extra worried about my brothers too.

I forced myself off the couch, pushing Cayden's legs off of me.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his eyes scanning over me in concern.

"I'm just getting water," I replied. I padded into the kitchen, taking a glass from the cabinet and filling it at the tap. I glanced down at my phone again, desperately hoping Alan had texted me, but he hadn't.

The mailbox slot clattered from the foyer. I half-hoped it would be my brothers coming home, but all I saw was a small envelope lying on the floor. Who would drop off a letter this late?

The envelope had my name on the front in messy writing, making my heart pound faster in my chest. I brought the letter back to the kitchen before ripping it open, clutching it in trembling hands.

My dearest Amelia, I'm sure you're pleasantly aware of the warning I gave you when you came to visit me. I thought we'd made an agreement but it seems you've violated our terms. However, I'm feeling rather generous at the moment and willing to give you another chance. You can either refuse to testify altogether or you can provide a more flattering testimony towards me on my behalf. Let me make my message clear: help me or your brother will die in three days. Tell anyone and the rest of your family will be facing the consequences too. Don't disappoint me.

There was no name attached to the letter, but I knew who it was from immediately.

But I didn't have time to fully register what it said because the door opened, followed by several harsh whispers.

"Why are the lights on?"
"They're still awake?"

"Fuck, help me with him,"

I quickly stuffed the letter into my back pocket before walking out into the foyer, deciding to confront them about where they'd been.

Cayden lunged off the couch after me, racing to try and stop me from entering. "Mia, don't!"

"What's going on . . . ?" I trailed off as I saw all four missing brothers standing there. Well . . . not all standing.

Colton was draped across Cato's back, covered in blood and bruises. Alan and Eli looked the same, with cuts and dirt smeared across their faces. Their hands were wrapped and bloodied around the knuckles like they'd been fighting.

My eyes widened with fear and I instinctively took a step away from them. I locked my gaze with Cato, who was still dressed in his work attire and now soaked in blood. "T-this was your meeting?" I asked shakily.

His hard expression softened. "No," he said bluntly. "I had to go rescue them," He shot a deadly glare towards the three boys.

Eli was staring at the floor in shame while Alan was staring at me, his expression unreadable.